In a clear indication that the Vietnam government persists in their determination to bulldoze not only Church’s properties but also Church leaders image, even children’s magazines now have been employed in the campaign of defamation.
After bulldozing the former nunciature and the shire of Our Lady at Thai Ha, the Vietnam government has tried to bulldoze Church leaders image as well by stepping up its media campaign of vilification using even children’s magazines to attack Catholic leaders and Catholic beliefs.
This week, the Thieu Nien Tien Phong (Pioneer Children) magazine opened fire on Church leaders, Hanoi Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet, in particular. In an article, an adult writer, masquerading as a Catholic primary student, stated that she lost her Catholic belief due to the prelate’s words and behaviors. The magazine is a publication for children at primary school.
Media reports had seized on an isolate phrase in a comment by the archbishop and pulled it out of context to make him appear unpatriotic; and then attacked him viciously.
“Hanoi government is shameless,” said Fr. Dang Huu Chau, a Hanoi priest. “Using a children’s magazine to spread such a blatant lie is disgusting,” he commented.
At Hanoi Redemptorist Monastery, the harassment on clergy and faithful of Thai Ha parish has escalated with the summon of Fr. Matthew Vu Khoi Phung, the Hanoi Redemptorist Superior. On Thursday, police went to the monastery to issue an order of summon demanding Fr. Matthew Vu to be present at Dong Da police office. He has been charged with using his influence to incite the faithful to confront with the government; praying illegally in public areas, and disturbing the public order. The People’s Committee of Hanoi issued a warning against him threatening legal actions; and police stated they had found ample evidence of "organized crime" in the protests at Thai Ha. The superior left for a meeting in Saigon hours before the police came to the monastery.
Being summoned by police is a nightmare with most people. A Thai Ha's parishioner said she had been harassed with a series of summons. During last month, the police interrogated her eight times with same questions, typically, why did she came to pray at the land of dispute; did she know that praying there was illegal?
She had been threatened with legal actions. However, out of the frustration of being harrased with a series of summons and interrogations, she wished her trial would occur as soon as possible.
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| Thousands of Catholics pray daily at Thai Ha |
This week, the Thieu Nien Tien Phong (Pioneer Children) magazine opened fire on Church leaders, Hanoi Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet, in particular. In an article, an adult writer, masquerading as a Catholic primary student, stated that she lost her Catholic belief due to the prelate’s words and behaviors. The magazine is a publication for children at primary school.
Media reports had seized on an isolate phrase in a comment by the archbishop and pulled it out of context to make him appear unpatriotic; and then attacked him viciously.
“Hanoi government is shameless,” said Fr. Dang Huu Chau, a Hanoi priest. “Using a children’s magazine to spread such a blatant lie is disgusting,” he commented.
At Hanoi Redemptorist Monastery, the harassment on clergy and faithful of Thai Ha parish has escalated with the summon of Fr. Matthew Vu Khoi Phung, the Hanoi Redemptorist Superior. On Thursday, police went to the monastery to issue an order of summon demanding Fr. Matthew Vu to be present at Dong Da police office. He has been charged with using his influence to incite the faithful to confront with the government; praying illegally in public areas, and disturbing the public order. The People’s Committee of Hanoi issued a warning against him threatening legal actions; and police stated they had found ample evidence of "organized crime" in the protests at Thai Ha. The superior left for a meeting in Saigon hours before the police came to the monastery.
Being summoned by police is a nightmare with most people. A Thai Ha's parishioner said she had been harassed with a series of summons. During last month, the police interrogated her eight times with same questions, typically, why did she came to pray at the land of dispute; did she know that praying there was illegal?
She had been threatened with legal actions. However, out of the frustration of being harrased with a series of summons and interrogations, she wished her trial would occur as soon as possible.